Bill Maher has decided to put his stand-up comedy on hold due to the intense political tensions in the United States, acknowledging the risk of backlash from both Democrats and Republicans with the words, “I could get shot by the left or the right.”
Maher, 69, opened up about his rationale behind the decision to ditch touring and performing around the country, to fellow comedian Patton Oswalt Monday, on his Club Random podcast.
He expressed his concerns about the increasingly hostile political climate, which intensified after President Donald Trump defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the presidential election last year.
“I don’t want to be out there in this country’s current political climate,” stated Maher, the host of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher.
The Cornell University alum believes that, as a performer known for his politically charged content, it’s a prudent moment to step back from the public stage.
His remarks come two months following the tragic shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university event, which highlighted the deep divide between political factions and their contrasting responses to the incident.
Bill Maher says he’s taking a step back from his stand-up comedy career amid massive political division in the U.S. between Democrats and Republicans
In a broadcast on September 20, Maher criticized the Emmy Awards organizers for overlooking Kirk’s murder while focusing on other political matters.
Maher slammed Emmys organizers on a September 20 broadcast for ignoring Kirk’s murder while shining the light on other political issues.
‘Would it have killed someone to get up there, since they all want to talk about their politics… just to say we had a political assassination this week and that’s wrong,’ Maher said.
He added: ‘They would have been booed off the stage because he was on the wrong team – so you’re not even allowed to say that.’
Maher, who celebrates his 70th birthday early next year, said on Monday that he also was ‘tired of the travel’ requisite for a profitable stand-up comedy career.
Maher, who formerly hosted Politically Incorrect on Comedy Central and ABC, said he felt the scale of his career has yet to reach its full potential in terms of live performances.
‘I just got tired of being twice as funny as people who were selling twice as many tickets as me,’ Maher told Oswalt. ‘Not that I didn’t sell a lot of tickets and do great theaters – but I didn’t sell arenas.’
The New York native continued expressing his thoughts in regard to the evolving comedy landscape.
‘Some people did [sell out arenas] who, frankly, are not that great,’ he said. ‘But, you know, when the audience is 35 to 45, they don’t wanna see somebody 70.’
Maher, 69, opened up about his rationale behind the decision to ditch touring and performing around the country, to fellow comedian Patton Oswalt Monday, on his Club Random podcast
The comic said, ‘I don’t want to be out there in this country, in this political atmosphere’
Maher said he was proud of his stand-up specials, and feels they improved over time.
‘I just did my 13th HBO special,’ Maher said. ‘I feel like that’s a good body of work. I felt they all, they basically got better as it went along.
‘I feel like the last one was the best one, which is a good way to get off.’
Maher earlier this year had dinner with President Trump at the White House, later telling his audience he ‘didn’t go MAGA,’ and pushing back on those critical of him breaking bread with the sitting Commander in Chief.
‘Lemme first say to all of the people who treated this like it was some kind of summit meeting, you’re ridiculous – like I was gonna sign a treaty or something!’ Maher said. ‘I have no power, I’m a f***ing comedian, and he’s the most powerful leader in the world.’
Real Time with Bill Maher airs Fridays at 10/9c on HBO.
